London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
St Giles (Camden) 1891
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Giles District]
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Other Zymotic Diseases.
(Miasmatic.)
Influenza in 1890 was fatal to 10 people in St. Giles District. In May, 1891, it reappeared, and caused 31 deaths at the following ages:—
| 1 to 5. | Under 15 Years. | Between 15 and 25 Years. | Between 25 and 60 Years. | Above 60 Years. | Total Deaths. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 12 | 31 |
26 were parishioners of St. Giles in the Fields, and 5
belonged to St. George, Bloomsbury; 12 were inmates of the
Workhouse. Two-thirds of the deaths occurred during May
and June.
In this country sporadic cases were noted in the Metropolis
during the past winter (1890), but about the beginning
of April, 1891, there was a return of the influenza in an
epidemic form in certain towns in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire,
and also in Birmingham.
In the week ending April 25th, the death-rate for Sheffield
reached the extraordinary figure of 57 per 1,000, against 38
per 1,000 for the highest weekly death-rate during the
epidemic in 1890.
The Registrar-General's Mortality returns for London in
the week ending May 9th showed an increase of 433 deaths
above the average number in the corresponding week of the
last ten years. The deaths primarily attributed to influenza,
which had been 10 and 37 in the preceding two weeks, rose
to 148, or 21 in excess of the highest number during the 1890
outbreak; the deaths from diseases of the respiratory organs
were 584, or 240 in excess.
The number of patients suffering from influenza attending
the London Hospitals was very large.
At the end of May the disease distinctly declined in the
Metropolis.
In a paper read before the Epidemiological Society, Dr.
Sisley concluded with the following propositions:—1. There